The 9 Best Beginning of Summer Concerts in NYC

What better way to ring in the official summer months than with a short trip to Newark to see Thom Yorke and company? Radiohead is known to put on a fantastic show, and have seniority over much of the members on this list, meaning they’ve perfected their live aura.

Who doesn’t want to see Drizzy after his newest prime time album dropped last November? Although the concert is in Long Island, Drake’s known to put on a great show. And, because of the location, there might be some special celebrity guests tagging along. Go ahead and make it a #DrakeSummer.

If you’re not into Drake’s smooth jams, you can check out folk rock band Dawes for free! Admission is on a first come, first served basis, so make sure you arrive at least two hours early. Check out the official music video for single When My Time Comes, off of their album North Hills to see if this concert could be something worth your time.

Since “We Are Young” dropped earlier this year, people have been talking about alternative band Fun. and whether or not they deserve the hype they’ve received. Regardless, they sure do know how to craft a catchy song. They’re playing for two nights at Terminal 5 due to popular demand, so they must be doing something right.

This Swedish folk crooner is not only dreamy, a wonderful guitar player, and a thoughtful lyricist–he also has a pretty sick horse tattoo on his arm. Bask in the glory that is The Tallest Man as June comes to a close, and feel transported to a much happier, natural place.

This two-day festival, although pricey, is sure to deliver on some hot beats. Headliners include Passion Pit, Modest Mouse, and the ever-elusive Beck, who has been flying under the radar lately. They make sure to brag about their scheduling, but with reason. No overlapping sets means not having to choose between Duck Sauce and Santigold.

7. Alabama Shakes: June 24th, Central Park Summer Stage.

Although it overlaps with the second day of Governor’s Ball, the FREE Alabama Shakes concert can provide you with some much needed soul satisfying songs. This band has been getting its fair share of positive press lately, and with reason. Their debut album, released recently on April 9th, is filled with perfectly executed bluesy riffs and vocals. They’re sure to put on a great show.

This is one summer concert that should not be missed if you’re a fan of intelligent wordplay, immaculately swagged out men, Community, or just life in general. Donald Glover will be stepping into his alternate persona for a night of Celebrate Brooklyn! and can be counted on for one excellent time.

Technically, this is a ten-day festival. If you can’t make this show, there will be five more performances you can catch. They’ve made sure to hit every borough, so there’s no reason to miss out. A highlight from this year is up-and-coming opera star Danielle de Niese.

Gabrielle Campagnano (Opinion Editor)’s favorite word is communication. She is described by close friends (and enemies) as “diligent,” “an appreciator of words,” “jolly,” “hottest monogomist” and “moogle”. Although she concentrates in Poetry at Sarah Lawrence, you can talk to her about intelli-rap and Szechuan peppercorns. Post-grad, Gabrielle plans on readying the next generation of artists (ages 5-10) to take on the world with mindfulness and sensitivity.